Strategies of Designing High-Efficiency Electrolyte Additives for Aqueous Magnesium Batteries: A Review

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Energy Storage

Background:

• Aqueous magnesium-air batteries are promising for sustainable energy storage due to magnesium's low cost and high capacity.
• However, high self-discharge rates and discharge product formation limit magnesium anode performance and efficiency.
• Current strategies like anode alloying and electrolyte additives show potential but face compatibility challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of electrolyte additives in aqueous magnesium batteries.
• To provide insights into magnesium anode discharge mechanisms with additives.
• To propose strategies for designing efficient electrolyte additive mixtures.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent advancements in electrolyte additives for aqueous Mg batteries.
• Analysis of discharge mechanisms for Mg-based anodes in various additive-containing electrolytes.
• Discussion of future directions, including AI-supported workflows for additive design.

Main Results:

• Electrolyte additives can mitigate issues like self-discharge and improve anode utilization in Mg batteries.
• Understanding additive-electrolyte-anode interactions is crucial for optimizing performance.
• AI and robotic workflows offer a pathway for accelerated development of novel additives.

Conclusions:

• Electrolyte additives are key to unlocking the potential of aqueous magnesium-air batteries.
• Further research into additive design and mechanisms is needed.
• AI-driven approaches promise rapid advancement in this field.